Pakistan is set to launch a nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign from October 13 to 19, aiming to immunize over 45 million children under the age of five. The drive, organized by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), marks one of the largest public health initiatives in the country, as Pakistan continues its fight to eradicate the poliovirus once and for all.
The campaign comes at a crucial time after new poliovirus cases were recently confirmed in the Badin and Thatta districts of Sindh, bringing the total number of cases in 2025 to 29. To strengthen children’s immunity, each child will also receive a dose of Vitamin A alongside the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The government has emphasized that repeated vaccinations are essential to protect every child and prevent the virus from spreading.
More than 400,000 trained health workers will be mobilized across the country to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, even in remote or high-risk areas. The vaccination breakdown by region includes around 23 million children in Punjab, 10.6 million in Sindh, 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2.6 million in Balochistan, and thousands more across Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where polio continues to exist. Despite progress in recent years, the virus still poses a serious threat, particularly in areas with limited healthcare access and resistance to vaccination campaigns. In 2024, at least 71 polio cases were recorded across nearly 90 districts, highlighting the urgent need for sustained national efforts.
In a strict move to boost participation, the Sindh government has proposed measures against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. These include potential suspension of SIM cards, CNICs, and passports for those who fail to comply. Officials have stated that the health of every Pakistani child is a collective responsibility and that vaccine refusal puts entire communities at risk.
The NEOC and provincial health departments have urged all parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that their children receive the drops at every campaign. The government hopes that through consistent efforts, Pakistan can finally eliminate polio and secure a healthier, disease-free future for its next generation.
